Method for attaching an identification card



United States Patent Ofifice 3,061,964 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,061,964 METHOD FOR ATTACHDJG AN IDENTIFICATION CARD Hector Peloquin, 3 Jean-Baptiste St, Sorel, Quebec, Canada Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 175,246 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-316) The present invention relates to .a method for attaching an identification card or the like to an electric cord, or other elongated and flexible articles.

It is often necessary to attach an identification card to an electric cord, the end of which is provided with a plug or the like having a greater size than the cord itself. The identification card is normally made of cardboard or heavy paper, and is provided with a reinforced hole through which passes a string. In order to attach the identification card to the electric card, it is necessary to either manually tie the string around the cord or else to previously make the string into a loop of suflicient size to be able to insert the electric plug therethrough. However, under these conditions, the identification card can easily become detached from the cord. The same problem occurs when it is desired to attach an identification card to other flexible elongated objects provided with an enlarged end portion.

The general object of the present invention resides therefore in the provision of a method which enables t very rapidly attach an identification card to an electric cord or other elongated flexible objects provided with an enlarged end portion without having to make a knot and yet obtain a firm securing of the card to the cord whereby the card will not become accidentally detached.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a method of the character described which .is very simple and very quick to carry out.

The foregoing objects and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 are partial elevations of an electric cord and an identification card showing the different steps of the method for attaching the card to the cord; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section of the completed attachment shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, in accordance with the invention it is desired to attach identification card 1 to an electric cord 2 or other flexible elongated object, the cord or other object being provided at one end with an enlarged portion constituted in the illustrated application by an electric plug 3. The identification card is normally made of cardboard, heavy paper or other conventional material, and is provided with a hole 4, the edges of which are reinforced, if desired, by paper 5 glued to the card.

In accordance with the invention, a string 6 is inserted through hole 4 and tied at both ends to form a loop, the opening of which is suificient for free passage of at least a double thickness of cord 2 but insufficient for the insertion of plug 3. The first step of the method in accordance with the present invention consists of bending the electric cord 2 over itself to form a U which is inserted through the string loop 6, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The part of the U protruding through string loop 6 must be of sufficient dimension for the free passage of plug 3. Thus, starting from FIGURE 1, the end portion of the cord provided with plug 3 is bent back and the plug 3 past through the U-shaped loop of the cord, as shown in FIGURE 2; this constitutes the second step of the method. The third step consists of simultaneously pulling in opposite directions on plug 3 and on the opposed end of the electric cord, that is portion 7. Thus, the U of the electric cord vanishes and the cord becomes straight, as shown in FIGURE 4. During this operation, the string loop 6 automatically forms a knot which constitutes the final attachment of the card to the electric cord, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

In this attachment, only one strand 6' passes through the U 6 whereas the other strand 6" enters directly through hole 4 to merge with strand 6'.

Because the string loop 6 is of small size and is bent over itself to form the attachment and maintains the card close to the electric cord, it is impossible for the string to slip off the cord, because it will abut against the plug 3 or other similar enlarged portion at the end of the electric cord or other flexible elongated objects.

The method in accordance with the present invention enables to utilize identification cards which had been previously provided with a looped string formed or tied by a suitable machine and thus does not require manual tying of the cord around the electric cord or other flexible elongated object.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Method for attaching a card provided with a string loop to an elongated flexible object having an enlarged portion of a size greater than the opening of said string loop, said method comprising the steps of bending the elongated flexible object in the vicinity of its enlarged portion to form two branches of a U which is inserted through said string loop, passing the enlarged portion of said flexible elongated object through said U, and thereafter pulling in opposite directions spaced portions of the flexible elongated object on both sides of said string loop to straighten out said object thereby resulting in the attachment of the card to the object, the latter passing through the string loop.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible object is an electric cord and said enlarged portion is an electric plug at one end of the cord.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said card is an identification card for the cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 171,894 Wheeler et al Jan. 4, 1876 292,093 Bond Jan. 15, 1884 2,064,209 Lee Dec. 15, 1936 2,091,191 Van Luven Aug. 24, 1937 2,702,718 Shortland c Feb. 22, 1955 

